In her first news conference in a week, the premier spoke about last week’s provincial election results.
Christy Clark says this is a unique time in British Columbia’s history.
The outcome of the provincial election won’t be known until at least May 24th.
That’s when Elections B.C. announces the final results for the absentee ballots for the two ridings where the outcome is still not clear, including Courtenay Comox.
So, there could be a majority government, or a coalition of two parties, or a minority government.
Premier Christy Clark says since election night, she’s had conversations with the Green Party’s Andrew Weaver, and NDP Leader John Horgan.
“They were friendly conversations. And to both of them, what I talked about is that British Columbians want us all to work together,” says Clark. “I think that was a very clear result for me from this election. That means, I think there is an appetite to do that. And certainly Dr. Weaver has been, he’s talked about that a lot over the last 28 days as well.”
A different perspectives from the NDP leader John Horgan.
“I spoke with Ms. Clark. I’ve also spoken a couple of several times with Mr. Weaver,” says Horgan. “We are in discussions with Mr. Weaver’s group, our staff, and their staff. I have no such relationship with the B.C. Liberals.”
A new post election poll shows that, once all the votes are finally counted next week, British Columbians do not want to see a Green Liberal coalition government.
The Main street research poll shows that just 27 per cent of B-C voters approve of a Liberal-Green coalition government.
At the same time, the survey shows a majority would support an NDP-Green coalition.
The poll also shows that the election’s results turned out to be a disappointment to NDP supporters.
57 per cent say they were unsatisfied with the outcome.
Wading into the discussion is Alberta’s premier Rachel Notley.
She says whatever the final result of the May 9th election, the contentious Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion will go ahead.
“Whatever combination or permutation of parties ultimately end up earning the ability to govern in BC, the fact of the matter is they will do so with the slimmest of majorities,” says Notley. “My view is that they will quickly be told they don’t actually have the authority at the end of the day to stop the pipeline.”
As far as the Green Party is concerned, it’s forging ahead with plans for a minority government.
It’s struck a negotiating team to meet with either the NDP or Liberals.
The team includes: Andrew Weaver, Sonia Furstenau the deputy leader, as well as Liz Lilly, the chief of staff for the caucus, and former political operator Norman Spector.
Mary Griffin
